february picks

it was an extremely busy month for me, so not a ton of picks but the ones i do have are even more special and reliable. this month was about keeping myself sane and healthy, which for the most part i did a good job of, minus the fact that i’m currently in bed with strep throat! what were your favorites for the month of february?// skincare //

origins original skin retexturizing mask // this is a beautiful exfoliating mask with a base of rose clay, which is a gentle way to draw impurities out of the skin. when you wash this mask off, you also get a very gentle physical exfoliating effect thanks to jojoba beads included in the mask. this mask never makes my dry skin feel too dry or tight, just cleansed and purified. highly recommend at least trying a sample – it’s the best clay mask i’ve ever used.paula’s choice skin perfecting 2% bha toner // after struggling with my skin for the past 6 months, my dermatologist recommended me to add an antibiotic and differin cream onto the aczone cream that i already use. and i decided that i just didn’t want to do it. the creams are so drying on my already dry skin and i always react poorly to them for months. after some hefty research, i decided to try the pc 2% bha toner which is great for clogged pores especially. and after using it for 2 straight weeks, i am finally over the purging period and i am so impressed. my skin isn’t perfect, but it is so much better and any pimple that i get clears up quickly and leaves much less pigmentation than usually. all of this combined with the fact that i also went off birth control recently, this toner is a keeper for sure. it’s also not drying! at all!

// extras //

aesop resurrection hand balm // this hand cream deserves all the hype around it as well as the hefty price tag ($27). it sinks into the skin almost immediately, leaving no grease or residue on the hands. pretty sure this has single handedly saved my dry, overwashed hands this winter. it is expensive, but absolutely worth it – and not even as or more expensive than some hand creams on the market, if that makes sense. plus it smells delicious – a beautiful mix of woods and citrus that fades quickly.dedcool fragrance 02 // after wanting to try this dedcool fragrance for at least 6 months now, i finally bit the bullet just after the new year. and i say this fragrance, because i knew that it was the exact one of the bunch that i would enjoy – mainly because it’s mostly sandalwood. the inclusion of juniper is so gorgeous and very unique. i can truly say this fragrance is like nothing i’ve ever tried or smelled before and i am absolutely in love with it. it sits very close to the skin and settles to a warm, light sandalwood base. dedcool is very nicely priced for fragrance ($70 for 50ml), nontoxic, vegan, and unisex. according to the brand, “02 embodies the dark aroma of juniper mixed with green floral and sandalwood. This scent balances femininity with masculinity” and “intermingles rich hues of sandalwood and juniper berries to craft the unflawed musky blend of gender neutrality.” of all the sandalwood fragrances that i own and love, this is the best of the bunch. also, i got this at neiman marcus combined with a 15% off coupon they had for signing up for emails!

pura d’or shampoo // as i mentioned, i recently went off birth control, and i think that this caused my hair to start falling out. now it really wasn’t bad at all and i managed to not panic too much, but i was still worried. my sister recommended this shampoo and i love it! not only has it helped the fall out (could also be that my body adjusted to the lack of extra hormones), but i love how it makes my hair feel. it is sulfate-free and natural (?). even if it didn’t help protect my hair against breakage and fall out, i would still love and recommend this.// entertainment //

girls season one // i absolutely adored girls when the first season was released. the rest of the seasons just didn’t do it for me, but the first one is just as hysterical and well-written as ever. highly recommend rewatching the first season whether you completed the series or not!

matilda on youtube // simple, to the point, and delightfully australian. i just love her! i find myself watching and rewatching her videos whenever i’m on youtube – also just having them on as background noise.she shares my deep love for olio e osso balms, so really i don’t need to say anymore than that!